MANILA, Philippines?The turnout of would-be voters was slow as of past noon Tuesday, contrary to the expected surge of last-minute registrants at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) offices on Tuesday.

"Mahina, mabagal ang dating nila (Registrant turnout was weak and slow during the last day)," Commission on Election Chairman Jose Melo said Tuesday.

The extended registration, which was ordered by the Supreme Court based on the petition of the Kabataan party-list group, was scheduled Dec. 21-23 and Dec. 28-29.

"Kaunti lang talaga, siguro na-hit na natin yung (Registrants were very few probably because we already hit our) peak on October 31," Melo said.

Melo stressed that the Comelec will print only 49.3 million ballots based on the official number of voters as of Dec. 10.

Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal assuaged fears of a ballot shortage saying a 100 percent turnout of voters is "not statistically feasible."